January 2015 • Vol. 45, No. 1
Mecklenburg Medicine A Publication of the Mecklenburg County Medical Society | www.meckmed.org
There is
R E W PO
in a Unified Voice MCMS THE VOICE OF OUR PROVIDERS
Mecklenburg County Medical Society • Mecklenburg Medical Alliance and Endowment Founders of: Bioethics Resource Group, Ltd., Hospitality House of Charlotte, Teen Health Connection, N.C. MedAssist, Physicians Reach Out
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2 | January 2015 • Mecklenburg Medicine
Affordable pricing for your patients at all income levels Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center is the only hearing center in this area that provides discounts based on income levels. It is our mission to provide affordable high quality hearing healthcare for those in need. We have been serving the Charlotte area since 1967 and offer: • Full diagnostic evaluations for adults and children (age 1 and above) • Advanced Hearing Aid Technology • Free Hearing Screenings • Medicaid and most insurances accepted
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Mecklenburg Medicine • January 2015 | 3
Table of Contents 5 President’s Letter: Gambling With Our Attention By Simon V. Ward III, MD
6 Feature: A Is For Advocacy By Lee McCracken
8 Feature: National Program for Physician Reentry Expands in North Carolina By Bill O’Neill 10 Feature: 2015 MCMS Board of Directors and Leadership 12 Member News 13 MMAE 14 At the Hospitals 14 National Health & Wellness Observances for January 16 kure Independent Physicians of the Carolinas 16 Advertising Acknowledgements On The Cover: MCMS Position Statement: MCMS is a physician-led organization with more than 100 years experience in making a difference in the health of our community. The Society serves all physicians and physician assistants who seek to have a forum for impactful collaborations and the implementation of programs addressing the healthcare needs for our region. Membership provides unique opportunities for networking among physicians and physician assistants, allowing for a unified voice for healthcare policy and advocacy on behalf of all Mecklenburg County residents. We are an accessible, seamless organization where one can work with colleagues to address healthcare concerns and issues.
1112 Harding Place, #200, Charlotte, NC 28204 704-376-3688 • FAX 704-376-3173 meckmed@meckmed.org Copyright 2015 Mecklenburg County Medical Society Mecklenburg Medicine is published 10 times per year by the Mecklenburg County Medical Society, 1112 Harding Place, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28204. Opinions expressed by authors are their own, and not necessarily those of Mecklenburg Medicine or the Mecklenburg County Medical Society. Mecklenburg Medicine reserves the right to edit all contributions for clarity and length, as well as to reject any material submitted. Mecklenburg Medicine is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts. Non-members may subscribe to Mecklenburg Medicine at a cost of $30 per year, or $3.50 per issue, if extra copies are available. Classified Ads: Open to members, nonprofits and non-member individuals only; advance approval of the Managing Editor and advance payment required. Member rate is 0, non-members $20 for the first 30 words; $.75 each additional word. Display Ads: Open to professional entities or commercial businesses. For specifications and rate information, contact Mark Ethridge at mecklenburgmedicine@gmail.com. Acceptance of advertising for this publication in no way constitutes professional approval or endorsement of products or services advertised herein. We welcome your comments and suggestions: Call 704-376-3688 or write Mecklenburg Medicine, c/o Mecklenburg County Medical Society, 1112 Harding Place, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28204.
4 | January 2015 • Mecklenburg Medicine
January 2015 Vol. 45 No. 1 OFFICERS President Simon V. Ward III, MD President-Elect Stephen J. Ezzo, MD Secretary Elizabeth B. Moran, MD Treasurer Scott L. Furney, MD Immediate Past President James B. Hall, MD
BOARD MEMBERS John R. Allbert, MD Raymond E. Brown, PA W. Frank Ingram III, MD Stephen R. Keener, MD, MPH Scott S. Lindblom, MD John P. McBryde, MD Shivani P. Mehta, MD, MPH Robert L. Mittl, Jr., MD Pulak D. Patel, MD Cheryl L. Walker-McGill, MD, MBA
EX-OFFICIO BOARD MEMBERS Sherry Ward, President Mecklenburg Medical Alliance & Endowment Sandi D. Buchanan, Executive Director Mecklenburg County Medical Society Michelle Conner, DDS, President Charlotte Medical Society Docia E. Hickey, MD NCMS President-Elect Darlyne Menscer, MD NCMS Delegate to the AMA Marcus G. Plescia, MD, Health Director Mecklenburg County Health Department Douglas R. Swanson, MD, FACEP, Medical Director Mecklenburg EMS Agency
EXECUTIVE STAFF Executive Director Sandi D. Buchanan Meetings & Special Events Trisha G. Herndon Finance & Database Specialist Stephanie D. Smith
MECKLENBURG MEDICINE STAFF Editor Mark E. Romanoff, MD Managing Editor Sandi D. Buchanan Copy Editors Lee McCracken Stephanie Smith Advertising Mark Ethridge mecklenburgmedicine@gmail.com Editorial Board N. Neil Howell, MD Jessica Schorr Saxe, MD Simon V. Ward III, MD Graphic Design — Wade Baker
President’s Letter
Gambling With Our Attention By Simon V. Ward III, MD
D
riving down its streets, it looks like just another sleepy Southern town. But Perry, Ga. is the boyhood home of Sam Nunn — a true American statesman, who has gained respect and admiration from both sides of the aisle. Perry also is home to the Central Georgia Kennel Club dog show. Each September, dog owners from all over the Southeast bring their four-legged companions to compete in the ring. At a recent show, among the many dogs in the ring, was a German short-haired pointer being shown by a well-dressed woman. The dog seemed especially attentive, anticipating his owner’s every command. While all the dogs were receiving treats during the course of the show, this dog’s owner was taking something out of her mouth and giving it to the dog. Later that day, we were walking our dogs outside, and I asked her what she was giving her pointer. She told me she kept cut-up pieces of hot dog in her mouth. When she gave her dog a treat, it came from her mouth, keeping him focused on her face. On a busy night at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, it was not unusual for all the residents to be busy “in the back” with deliveries, while a number of patients gathered in triage to be evaluated. When deliveries were done, an intern would be sent up front to evaluate the patients who had come in. On arriving in triage, one of the nurse aides usually would say, “Doc, beds 1, 3 and 4 are headed to the back. Beds 2 and 6 can go home. You will have to watch bed 5 for a while.” We always checked the patients because our professors expected it, and we needed to have an exam for the chart, but it was totally unnecessary; we did exactly what the aides had described. There were no fetal monitors in triage. The ultrasound machine was locked up for the night. The aides had not examined the patient because they were not allowed to. They didn’t need to do an exam; they just looked in the patients’ eyes and listened to them speak. They knew who was in labor better than we did with exams and monitors, and they were NEVER wrong. I was in my hometown, New Orleans, for a recent American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists meeting. There was a break for lunch, so I went across the street for some food. There was a franchise restaurant that sells sandwiches shaped like underwater Naval vessels — usually good food and good service. When my turn came, I gave my order in a clear voice using the accent endemic to the area. The person behind the counter had her eyes fixed on the touch screen in front of her. She never looked up. She had no idea what I looked like. She was more focused on the screen than my order, but items on the screen were touched, apparently. It was not a particularly complicated order — one sandwich and one drink. When I moved down the counter to pay, I had the wrong sandwich. Some lucky employee got a free lunch. Walk into any library in the country (except the undergraduate library at Chapel Hill), and what do you hear? Almost nothing. What do you see? People working on projects, doing research, reading novels. Walk into any casino on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and what do you hear?
Noise, lots of it. Bells ringing, sirens going off. You see lights flashing. The gaming industry of America learned a long time ago that the best way to separate people from their money was distraction. Make a flashy environment, especially with lights and noise, and it is harder for people to concentrate. Gamblers should demand that casinos be as quiet as a library given it’s their hard-earned money on the line. A cartoon in a medical journal showed two operating room techs standing in the door of the OR. In the room is an anesthesiologist focused on the large array of equipment — pulse oximeter, EKG monitors, BP graphs — next to the OR table. One tech says to the other, “I don’t have the heart to tell him that we took the patient to the PACU 20 minutes ago.” As physicians, we need to make sure we are not distracted. Our electronic medical records are full of flashing lights and colors. We can mix and match in uncountable ways the information is entered and thrown back at us. The folks who sold us these systems talked about all the wonderful things the EMR can do. After listening to the pitch, one might assume the EMR would excise the tumor, lower the blood glucose and stop the hallucinations. The problem is that the EMR really should not “do” anything. Patients tell us their concerns. Practitioners do their best to listen and perform the appropriate evaluation, with or without technology. The medical record should reflect, as accurately as possible, what transpired. There is no question we love our technology. The Human Genome Project was completed in April 2003, a monumental work decoding a significant portion of the DNA in the 46 chromosomes that determine what makes a human being. No doubt, as we learn more about the DNA pattern, we will find a significant number of codes specifically for humans’ love of things electronic. We never had to pass laws against reading the sports section while driving. We rarely saw someone reading the latest Patricia Cornwell novel while passing through the hospital. Now, almost everyone has their eyes focused on the gadget in their palm as they roam the halls. The loblolly pines of Henry County, Ala., can rest easy. Paper medical records are not going to return. We should, however, always be vigilant about making sure these wonderful pieces of software do not detract from our main focus. As we enter information into these slot machines with problem lists, are we looking at our patients or the computer screen? Even with a gazillion gigabytes at our fingertips, everything we need to know about our patients is in their face, in their voice and in their eyes. Maybe we can take a lesson from a dog. Oh, and the German short-haired pointer? A blue ribbon.
P.S. When I die, I want to go where the dogs go.
Mecklenburg Medicine • January 2015 | 5
Feature
A Is For Advocacy By Lee McCracken, Contributing Writer
I
t is difficult to dispute the truth of the adage, “There is strength in numbers.” Even in the book of Ecclesiastes, scripture states, “A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.” Physicians unite in numbers to advocate for each other, their practices and the community in which they work. In accordance with the American Medical Association’s Declaration of Professional Responsibility, physicians have an obligation to “respect and advocate for the human rights of their patients and society, as a means to promoting good health.” Locally, through the Mecklenburg County Medical Society, and across the state, through the North Carolina Medical Society, physician advocacy is strong and effecting positive change. The priority areas of these organizations include legislative issues, payer issues, health policy and public health. “Physicians are busy running their offices — patients, charting and keeping up with the latest medical news — and they have family lives, too,” says Simon Ward, MD, president of the Mecklenburg County Medical Society. “What we do, and what the NCMS does, is significant.” In the Charlotte metro area, MCMS exists on behalf of thousands of physicians and helps to equip them with the tools they need to stay successful in their practices in the ever-changing health care environment. As the Affordable Care Act (ACA) continues to unfold, education and advocacy remain essential. “With the implementation of the ACA — the coming of Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) — the need is great for physicians and physician assistants to make sure the changes are consistent with quality patient care and that the structure allows practitioners to provide that care,” says Ward. “MCMS continues to be a voice for practitioners and encourages even more to ‘join the chorus.’”
What’s Being Done? In terms of legislation at the local level, MCMS took a stand last summer to encourage the banning of smoking in county parks. Additionally, the Society has expressed concern to city and county officials over the significant amount of diesel exhaust — due to large trucks at construction sites sitting idle with engines running — contributing to air pollution. (It’s been reported that Charlotte ranks seventh in the nation for air pollution.) At the state level, the Society works closely with the NCMS. “In 20ll, the biggest accomplishment was the override of the governor’s veto on a malpractice bill,” explains Ward. “It was the work of medical societies all over the state, coordinated by the NCMS, and it was a serious movement and an unbelievable success.”
6 | January 2015 • Mecklenburg Medicine
Stephen Ezzo, MD, MCMS president-elect, affirms, “We feel working with NCMS has a synergistic effect, as we can use their greater resources and contacts to implement change.” He adds, “This strengthens our advocacy ability.” In addition, Ezzo says MCMS works with the NCMS “to educate local physicians about political candidates who are sympathetic to physician concerns.” Ward describes the quality of the staff at the NCMS as “top-notch — smart and caring.” He says, “We have a very strong state organization. I’ve attended the annual meetings for two years, and I’m extremely impressed with the NCMS officers and staff. Robert Seligson is solid; he works for doctors.” Seligson is the executive vice president and chief executive officer of the NCMS, as well as the treasurer and chair of the Finance Committee. He’s also the chief executive officer of the NCMS Foundation and the president of the Physician Advocacy Institute (PAI). While being very diplomatic, he has been described as a “pitbull” and does not
Physicians Advocacy Institute The PAI was formed out of the settlement terms from multidistrict litigation (MDL) in 20052006 that focused on unfair payment practices by many of the nation’s large forprofit health insurers. It ensures that health plans that settled payment lawsuits with physicians comply with the agreements to pay doctors fairly. “When all is said and done, physicians Robert Seligson, CEO will have received over $500 million in monetary relief from these settlements,” says Robert Seligson, chief executive officer. He adds, “We will continue to work to address harmful payer practices in the courts and through legislative and regulatory initiatives. We want to help physicians immediately react to ill-conceived, cost-cutting, hassleenhancing initiatives by the insurers.” PAI also is developing a “Claims Data Warehouse” to help physicians analyze their own claims data within the guidelines established by the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice. Seligson says, “This is a massive undertaking that can help physicians not only with health insurance claims in terms of accuracy and payment, but also with many of the pay-for-performance initiatives being thrust upon them. Insurers have been analyzing physicians’ claims data for years.” — PhysiciansAdvocacyInstitute.org
Feature apologize for his passionate advocacy for physicians, speaking out against tort reform and Medicaid cuts. Under Seligson’s leadership, a leadership college has been established to help physicians get involved in local politics. Another way in which MCMS locally advocates for physicians is by working with the local chapter of the Medical Group Managers (CAMGM), headed by David White, MBA, CMPE, which works to track issues with payers. With regard to public health, MCMS members have volunteered their time in tackling childhood obesity and clean air, as well as working to support school nurses and countywide fitness programs. Members are encouraged to give back by volunteering at community health clinics. “Someone from the county health department attends our monthly board meetings, so we can make sure we know the issues they are facing and we can look for ways to help,” says Ward.
“Physicians are busy running their offices — patients, charting and keeping up with the latest medical news — and they have family lives, too.”
What Can Pracitioners Do? Circling back to “strength in numbers,” MCMS makes it clear that physicians in Mecklenburg County have a voice. “You can be heard,” affirms Ward. “We encourage individuals or groups to tell us their concerns, their pressing issues.” The general membership of MCMS, as well as committee involvement, is growing, but there’s an atmosphere of urgency. Whether MCMS is addressing local or state politicians, Ward says, “They might not listen to one, but they WILL listen to many.” Ezzo adds, “We can assist practitioners with an issue they are passionate about, and we can arrange meetings with local officials. And, MCMS always is looking for more members to become involved in the advocacy process.” As a new year begins and health care changes continue to evolve, Ward says, “Nobody seems to know how it’s all going to happen, and with a presidential election in 2016, it may get even more complicated. We MUST make sure we’re still taking care of our patients.” MCMS held a Legislative Breakfast in 2014, and in 2015 members can take part in White Coat Wednesday in Raleigh during Open Session. Details will be distributed to MCMS members when they are available.
Breaking ground early 2015 …
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Mecklenburg Medicine • January 2015 | 7
Feature
National Program for Physician Reentry Expands in North Carolina By Bill O’Neill, Reg. Director, Programs & Development, Center for Personalized Education for Physicians (CPEP)
Addressing a Pressing Need The national shortage of physicians, most critical in primary care, has been well-documented. Particularly in rural or other underserved areas, the number of practicing physicians is declining as the Affordable Care Act is bringing more patients into the system. CPEP has been working to address this problem since 2003 through its Reentry to Clinical Practice (RCP) program for physicians, physicians’ assistants and advanced practice nurses. According to Elizabeth Grace, MD, CPEP’s medical director and herself a graduate of the Duke-Watts Family Medicine Residency says, “As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we are very vision-driven, and the RCP program is a manifestation of our mission helping qualified, caring physicians get back to serving the communities that need them.”
RCP in Detail CPEP’s RCP program is a clinical evaluation and educational planning vehicle designed to facilitate a smooth, safe return to patient care, specifically for physicians who have been voluntarily out of practice for an extended period of time. Mary Minobe, CPEP’s director of education, points out, “There are a host of reasons why physicians step away from patient care — to raise a family, focus on administrative medicine or for health reasons. What we commonly hear, though, is the desire on their part to once again engage with patients … and RCP is tailored to each of their individual needs.” Minobe goes on to point out that RCP is not intended for physicians whose licenses have been suspended or revoked for disciplinary reasons, although other CPEP
• Incorporation of courses, online education and self-study resources • Regular reports and tracking of progress and completion According to CPEP CEO Beth Korinek, MPH, “Physicians seeking to reenter practice need to prove to themselves and others that they can actually practice medicine in today’s rapidly evolving medical world. They also need educational support and resources to be successful, and our RCP program is here to help.”
Track Record of Success – Expanding in the Old North State The RCP program has had a broad impact since its inception, with 150 physicians from 27 states enrolled since 2003. CPEP’s Dr. Grace notes, “If you do the math, RCP is making a significant impact. If each of those physicians sees 20 patients per day and works 40 weeks of the year, that’s 720,000 annual patient visits that would not be covered otherwise.” Historically serving a national constituency from its headquarters in Denver, Colo., CPEP recently launched a satellite operation out of the North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) building in downtown Raleigh. NCMS staff has been exceptionally gracious and helpful in this effort. Stephen Keene, general counsel and deputy executive vice president of the NCMS says, “Physician recruitment and retention are serious issues in North Carolina, and we are pleased to have CPEP’s Reentry to Clinical Practice onsite to bolster these efforts.” For more information on CPEP’s work in North Carolina, contact Bill O’Neill at boneill@cpepdoc.org or call 919-238-6436. CPEP’s N.C. offices are located at 222 N. Person St., Raleigh, NC 27601.
programs may be able to help those individuals, as well.
Personally Tailored Programs
A Participant’s Perspective
No two physicians are alike, and their needs cannot be addressed through a “cookie cutter” approach. The RCP program begins with an evaluation of the participant’s skills as they are today and compares them to where they need to be in order to practice with safety and confidence. That evaluation leads to a personally tailored reentry plan that connects those two dots. A typical one-day evaluation may include: • Clinical interviews by specialty-matched physicians • Simulated patient cases • Documentation of simulated patient encounters • Health information review • Cognitive function screening • Written testing, depending on specialty The individually tailored reentry plans are generally completed in the physician’s home community. While individual situations vary, the plans commonly include: • Supervised clinical experience to update technical skills/medical knowledge • Independent practice with preceptor guidance • Training in use of contemporary medical information resources
Consultant Opportunities Available at CPEP
8 | January 2015 • Mecklenburg Medicine
“I thought my onsite assessment was very well-conducted, and I agreed with the profile of strengths and weaknesses that it produced. The Education Plan that CPEP developed was quite thorough but still realistic for my specific professional objectives. I thought the preparation for practice I received, combined with CPEP’s credibility in the eyes of the Board, made it worthwhile, without question.” CPEP Reentry Participant – Specialist Physician
CPEP is recruiting North Carolina physicians from various specialties to serve as occasional consultants and associate medical directors (AMDs). Consulting physicians conduct structured clinical interviews with participants in order to gain insight into their knowledge, thought processes and clinical judgment. AMDs oversee the interview process and are responsible for the final assessment reports. For more information, contact Amanda Besmanoff at abesmanoff@cpepdoc.org.
Care Ring’s Physicians Reach Out Program Reaches $100 Million in Donated Care, Celebrates With Donors, Patients and Sponsors Care Ring’s Physicians Reach Out (PRO) program reached a huge milestone in 2014: $100 million in donated care for residents of Mecklenburg County. During the past year, 3,000 uninsured individuals received life-changing medical and dental care through generous volunteers in the health care community. Care Ring and SunTrust Bank, a valued corporate partner, will host an event celebrating this achievement in the near future at Zebra Restaurant. The cocktail party will celebrate PRO physicians and include major funders such as Carolinas HealthCare System, Novant Health and OrthoCarolina, along with Care Ring’s client ambassadors. Watch for invitations. Physicians Reach Out is a nonprofit outreach program that provides primary and specialty medical and dental care to eligible uninsured residents. All PRO doctors and dentists donate their services and see PRO patients in their own offices. Office visits are at no charge and other services, such as diagnostic testing, lab services and hospitalization, are provided at a reduced cost. For more information about Care Ring and the Physicians Reach Out program, visit www.careringnc.org. PRO was started in 2004 by the Meckleburg County Medical Society. In 2008, leadership was transferred to Care Ring.
Charlotte AHEC Course Offerings Charlotte AHEC is part of the N.C. Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program and Carolinas HealthCare System.
JANUARY-APRIL 2015
Continuing Medical Education (CME) 1/15-16 1/24 1/31 2/20-21 3/6 3/18-20 4/11-12
5th Annual Carolinas’ Sleep Symposium 2015 Cardiovascular Updates for Primary Care Physician 2015 UNC Pediatrics Utilization of Ultrasound in OB/GYN Obesity Summit 39th Annual Internal Medicine Conference 29th Annual Meeting of the Glomerular Disease Collaboration Network
For more information or to register for these courses, call 704-512-6523 or visit www.charlotteahec.org.
Mecklenburg Medicine • January 2015 | 9
Feature
Meet Your 2015 MCMS Board GYN and has been in practice at Directors Eastover OB/GYN Associates since 2008. Simon V. Ward III, MD, President John R. Allbert, MD Born in Lubbock, Texas, Dr. Born in New Orleans, Dr. Ward Allbert attended Texas Tech Scott L. Furney, MD, Treasurer graduated from Louisiana State University and School of Medicine. Born in Lake Orion, Mich., Dr. obtained his Furney completed He completed medical degree his medical degree his internship at the University at the University of and residency of Texas Medical Michigan, where in obstetrics and Branch. He he also completed gynecology at the Allbert Ward III completed his his residency and Charity Hospital of Furney residency in obstetrics and Louisiana. Ward practices general chief resident year in internal gynecology at Carolinas Medical medicine. Furney is chair of OB/GYN with Novant Health Center and a fellowship in the Department of Internal Rankin OB/GYN. Medicine at Carolinas Medical Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Stephen J. Ezzo, MD, President-Elect Center and medical director of the University of Mississippi the Faculty Physician Network. Medical Center. He now is Born in St. Petersburg, Fla., Dr. a maternal-fetal medicine He remains clinically active, Ezzo graduated from St. Louis consultant with Novant Health seeing both inpatients and University School of Medicine. Maternal-Fetal Medicine outpatients at CMC. He completed Associates. He is a past president his residency James B. Hall, MD, Immediate Past- of the North Carolina Obstetrics in Pediatrics at and Gynecology Society and is President Carolinas Medical the current North Carolina Vice Center. He currently Born in Dayton, Ohio, Dr. Hall Chair for the American Congress graduated from the is practicing at Ezzo of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Medical University Novant Health Matthews of South Carolina Children’s Clinic and is a W. Frank Ingram III, MD in Charleston Physician Executive for Novant Dr. Ingram was and completed Health. Ezzo has served on the born at Presbyterian his internship Matheson Foundation Committee Hall Hospital and raised and residency in obstetrics and served as a delegate to the in Charlotte. He and gynecology at the Miami North Carolina Medical Society. attended Davidson Valley Hospital/Wright State Ingram III College, graduating University Medical School in Elizabeth B. Moran, MD, Secretary with a degree in biology. He Dayton. He then completed Dr. Moran is a native earned his medical degree a gynecologic oncology Charlottean who earned her at the Medical University of fellowship at the Massachusetts undergraduate degree in South Carolina in Charleston, biology from Duke General Hospital/Harvard where he also completed a Medical School. He is on the University. She residency in anatomic and OB/GYN teaching faculty then received her clinical pathology. Following at Carolinas Medical Center medical degree residency training, Ingram and is director of gynecologic from Wake Forest performed an additional year of Moran oncology at the Levine University School training in surgical pathology at Cancer Institute. Hall has been of Medicine and completed Johns Hopkins Hospital. Since involved with the Medical her residency in obstetrics 2008, he has been a member of Society’s Community Intern and gynecology at Carolinas Presbyterian Pathology Group, Program since 2003 and serves Medical Center, serving as the serving as the medical director of as the committee’s co-chair. administrative chief her senior the hospital’s microbiology and Hall was named a Charlotte year. She is a Fellow of the anatomic pathology labs. Magazine Top Doctor in 2013. American Congress of OB/
Officers
10 | January 2015 • Mecklenburg Medicine
Stephen R. Keener, MD, MPH Dr. Keener is a native of Denver, Colo., but spent most of his life in North Carolina. He graduated from Davidson College and Duke University Medical School, and Keener then completed a residency in family medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, where he served as Chief Resident. He later earned an MPH in health policy and administration from the School of Public Health at UNCChapel Hill and completed a residency in preventive medicine. Keener is a career public health physician and serves as the medical director of the Mecklenburg County Health Department. He previously served as an ex-officio member of the Board in this capacity and as a member of the Public Health and Community Medical Preparedness Committees. He returns to the Board as an elected member. Scott S. Lindblom, MD Dr. Lindblom was born in Minneapolis, Minn. He graduated from the Medical College of Wisconsin and completed his internship, residency and served as chief Lindblom resident. He then completed a fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine at Barnes/Jewish Hospital at Washington University. Lindblom has practiced at Carolinas HealthCare System since 1996 and currently practices with Pulmonary & Critical Care Consultants and
d of Directors and Leadership Charlotte Medical Clinic. He is the Specialty Medical Director for Carolinas HealthCare System Adult Pulmonary and Critical Care. John P. McBryde, MD A native Charlottean, Dr. McBryde graduated from Davidson College, spent time overseas and then completed his medical school training at Medical University of McBryde South Carolina in Charleston. He completed his residency in emergency medicine at Cook County Hospital in Chicago and completed a sports medicine fellowship at Carolinas Medical Center. He is a long-time faculty member of the Department of Emergency Medicine at CMC and also sits on the board of directors at the Heineman Foundation, where he is active in international medical outreach. McBryde was named a Charlotte Magazine Top Doctor in 2013. Shivani P. Mehta, MD, MPH Dr. Mehta completed her pediatric residency at Carolinas Medical Center in 2011 and joined CHS as a faculty pediatrician at Teen Health Connection. She now works at Carolinas Mehta HealthCare System’s safety net pediatric practice, Myers Park Pediatrics Clinic. She trained at University of Michigan Medical School and received her MPH at Harvard School of Public Health. Mehta currently is involved in several CHS and community affiliated childhood obesity projects. She leads the 5210 Clinic at Myers Park Pediatrics, a lifestyle management clinic, and
works with the clinic Obesity QI Project to develop a standard of care in managing overweight and obese patients. She and Dr. Erin Stubbs at Myers Park Pediatrics were awarded a grant through the American Academy of Pediatrics and MetLife to work on improving physical activity in children ages 0-5 in their clinic and at several child care centers in the community. She also is working with the Child Health Committee, Healthy Weight Healthy Child Coalition, Food Policy Council, Mecklenburg County Fruit and Vegetable Coalition and the ShapeNC Community Action Council. Robert L. Mittl, Jr., MD Born in Illinois and raised in northern New Jersey, Dr. Mittl graduated from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. After Mittl completing a residency in internal medicine at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, he switched to radiology and completed his radiology residency and neuroradiology fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania. Mittl joined Charlotte Radiology in 1993 and practices as a neuroradiologist at Carolinas HealthCare System hospitals in the metro area. He is the president of Charlotte Radiology. Cheryl L. Walker-McGill, MD, MBA Born in Kodiak, Alaska, Dr. Walker-McGill graduated from the Duke University School of Medicine. She completed her internship and residency in internal medicine Walker-McGill
and her fellowship in allergyimmunology at the Northwestern University School of Medicine. She received a master’s degree in business from the University of Chicago. Previously, she served on the faculty at the Northwestern School of Medicine and she currently serves on the faculty at the Wingate Graduate School of Business. Walker-McGill is a medical director at Daimler Trucks, North America, at the Mt. Holly and Gastonia facilities. She is chair of the Allergy Immunology Section of the National Medical Association and is secretary/treasurer of the North Carolina Medical Board.
Physician Assistant Representative Raymond E. Brown, PA As the first PA board member, Brown brings a wealth of experience to the Board. He joined Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat Associates in 1993, Brown after practicing general medicine for nine years. Brown has specialized in otolaryngology for the past 13 years. He is a member of the North Carolina Medical Society, president of Metrolina Association of Physician Assistants, vice-president of the North Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants and a trustee for the North Carolina Association of Physician Assistants Endowment.
Resident Representative Pulak D. Patel, MD Dr. Patel is currently a thirdyear family medicine resident at
Carolinas Medical Center. She is from Lilburn, GA, and completed her undergraduate studies at Emory University with a dual degree in biology and Spanish. She then continued Patel on at Emory University School of Medicine to earn her medical degree. Patel serves as president of the Carolinas Medical Center House Staff Liaison Committee and is applying for a fellowship in sports medicine. Also serving on the Board as Ex-Officio Members Michelle Conner, DDS President, Charlotte Medical Dental and Pharmaceutical Society Docia E. Hickey, MD NCMS President-Elect Darlyne Menscer, MD NCMS Delegate to the AMA and chair of the NCMS Committee on Medical Education Marcus Plescia, MD Health Director, Mecklenburg County Health Department Douglas R. Swanson, MD, FACEP Medical Director, Mecklenburg EMS Agency and member of the North Carolina EMS Advisory Council Sherry Ward President, Mecklenburg Medical Alliance & Endowment Mecklenburg County Medical Society Executive Staff Sandi D. Buchanan Executive Director Trisha G. Herndon Meetings and Special Events Stephanie D. Smith Finance and Database Specialist
Mecklenburg Medicine • January 2015 | 11
Member News
Congratulations! Simon V. Ward III, MD, current MCMS president and Maeve E. O’Connor, MD, 2012 MCMS president, recently graduated from the 2014 North Carolina Medical Society Kanof Institute for Physician Leadership.
Volunteer Opportunities In Our Community
Free Clinic of Our Towns at the Ada Jenkins Center in North Mecklenburg
When your patients start to forget, remember The Ivey. At The Ivey, our purpose is to preserve memories, independence, and quality of life for people living with memory loss. Our professional, licensed team works closely with each of our members and you, their physicians. We help your patients and their families on a daily basis, and work with you to continue the therapies and treatments you recommend. We are able to recognize subtle behavioral changes and tailor care to each member.
We are a first-come first-serve free clinic. MD, PA, NP volunteers are needed. They arrive by 6 p.m. and see patients until about 8 p.m. Contact Sabrina (Bri) Niggel at 704-896-0471, ext. 116 or by email at Sabrina.niggel@adajenkins.org.
Free Clinics of Our Towns
Ada Jenkins Center 212 Gamble St., Davidson, NC 28036
Upcoming Meetings & Events
Meetings are at the MCMS office unless otherwise noted.
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Call today to learn more about how we can help your patients.
704-909-2070 | TheIvey.com
12 | January 2015 • Mecklenburg Medicine
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Thursday-Friday, Jan. 1-2 MCMS office closed – New Year’s Holiday. Tuesday, Jan. 6 Charlotte Dental Society Board meeting. 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10 MCMS Board Meeting/ Orientation. Myers Park Country Club. 7:30-11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13 MedLink meeting. Mecklenburg County Health Department. 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13 Charlotte Dental Society Membership meeting. Myers Park Country Club. 6 p.m.
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Thursday, Jan. 15 CAMGM. Myers Park Baptist Church Cornwell Center. Noon. Friday, Jan. 16 Child Health Committee meeting. 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21 MMAE Finance Committee meeting. 9 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21 MMAE Board meeting. 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 22 March magazine deadline.
MMAE MMAE Sponsors Community Health Classroom Food allergies! Doesn’t it seem that these days everyone is allergic to something? There’s no doubt that the incidence of food allergy has increased; it’s estimated 15 million people in the United States suffer from some sort of food allergy. A study funded by Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) found that the number of children in the country with peanut allergy more than tripled between 1997 and 2008. Unfortunately, along with this increased number of food allergies comes an increase in misinformation about exactly what is a food allergy — the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. One can hardly open a magazine without reading about some newly discovered allergy producing food. Celebrities endorse diets that eliminate one food or another that contain “toxins.” One national advocate for a gluten-free diet conducts a day-long training session for $1,000 and certifies graduates as “gluten counselors.” Did you know that a whole host of unproven and unreliable food allergy testing exists? These bogus tests run the gamut from muscle testing to hair analysis. The Mecklenburg Medical Alliance & Endowment (MMAE) wants you to know the facts about food allergy, which is why we have dedicated this year’s MMAE Community Health Classroom to the topic of food allergies.
We invite you to join us for a lively program and panel discussion.
FOOD ALLERGIES: Hype or Hypersensitivity
Myers Park Country Club • Thursday, Feb.19 • 9-11 a.m. Registration is $25 per person, and we’ll start the day with a delicious breakfast buffet that includes gluten-free selections. Three area physicians, John Klimas, MD; J. Gray Norris, MD; and Emily W. Langley, MD, all board-certified allergists from the Carolina Asthma & Allergy Center, will conduct a panel discussion. Among the topics covered will be:
Food Allergies: Hype or Hypersensitivity
Most Common Food Allergies Food Allergy Symptoms Oral Allergy Syndrome vs. Food Allergy Peanut Allergy Peanut Allergy — Management/Desensitization Gluten-Free Diets GMO’s — Why the Fuss?
Single Ticket = $25; Table for 8 = $185 Name:________________________________________ Address:______________________________________
These experts in food allergy have completed a residency in Internal Medicine and/or Pediatrics plus a two- to three-year fellowship in allergy/immunology. In addition to their training, they have passed the American Board of Allergy/ Immunology certification exam. Tickets for Food Allergy: Hype or Hypersensitivity are $25 per person; a reserved table for 8 can be purchased for $185. Online ticket sales are available at www.MMAEclassroom.com or www.mmaeonline.com. This is sure to be a popular program, so don’t hesitate; enroll in MMAE’s Community Health Classroom today!
The 2015 Grants and Disbursements Committee of the Mecklenburg Medical Alliance & Endowment (MMAE) is now accepting applications. The applications can be accessed online at mmaeonline.com. The application process, including the rules and guidelines for submitting a grant request, can
Email:________________________________________ Phone:________________________________________ Enclosed is $ __________ for _________ tickets Mail form to: MMAE Community Health Classroom Mecklenburg Medical Alliance & Endowment 1112 Harding Place, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28204
be found on the website. A hard copy of the application must be on file with the Grants and Disbursements Committee by February 28. Grants will be presented in May. If you have any questions, contact Pam Bullard, VP of Grants and Disbursements, at gwbullard@bellsouth.net.
Mecklenburg Medicine • January 2015 | 13
At the Hospitals
Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center Receives National Recognition Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center is one of 44 hospitals nationwide recognized for meritorious outcomes for surgical patient care by The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP). The ACS NSQIP recognizes a select group of hospitals for achieving exemplary outcomes and commended Presbyterian Medical Center for its care of surgical patients in eight clinical areas: mortality, pneumonia, kidney failure, cardiac incidents, surgical site infections, unplanned intubation, ventilator greater than 48 hours and urinary tract infection. Presbyterian Medical Center achieved the meritorious distinction based on its outstanding composite quality score in these eight categories. “This program is only one of many initiatives Novant Health has introduced to improve patient care and safety,” says Will Walker, MD, FACS, who coordinates the Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center ACS NSQIP program. “This high level of performance achieved at the national level shows how teamwork between nurses, physicians and other members of the healthcare team can significantly improve patient care.” The ACS NSQIP is a major program of the American College of Surgeons and the only nationally validated quality improvement program that measures the care of surgical patients. By sharing best practices between hospitals, the program aims to help all hospitals improve the care of surgical patients. In 2006, Presbyterian Medical Center was the first community hospital in North Carolina to join the ACS NSQIP program.
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Matthews Hematology Oncology Associates Joins Novant Health On December 10, Matthews Hematology Oncology Associates joined Novant Health, becoming Novant Health
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Cancer Specialists. Novant Health Cancer Specialists patients will have access to cancer services and all their health information will be available in MyChart, Novant Health’s online portal. MyChart allows patients to view their medical records, email their doctor and schedule appointments. Physicians will also be able to log in and have a full understanding of a patient’s medical history and easily make referrals. Alfred Newman, MD, Lance Lassiter, MD, Nusrat Chaudhary, MD, and Adam Kuykendal, MD, practice at Novant Health Cancer Specialists. The address remains the same at 1700 Matthews Township Parkway. You can refer a patient through Dimensions or by calling 704-841-8151.
improving health outcomes for mothers and babies. “Creating a practice that is welcoming to breastfeeding families is a vital way of promoting an activity that makes a huge difference in the health of our community,” says Michael Giftos, MD, pediatrician with Eastover Pediatrics. Research shows that a mother’s decision to breastfeed can be greatly influenced by the opinion and support of the healthcare providers she encounters while she is pregnant. “Our office enthusiastically supports and promotes breastfeeding through the combination of an environment conducive to breastfeeding and education of our physicians, office staff and families,” says Heather White, MD, obstetrician with Midtown OB/GYN.
Novant Health Physician Practices Receive State Recognition Novant Health Eastover Pediatrics and Novant Health Midtown OB/GYN were two of the three outpatient clinics recently named by the North Carolina Breastfeeding Coalition (NCBC) as inaugural recipients of the Mother-Baby Friendly Clinic Award. This competitive award signifies excellence in support for breastfeeding families. Awardees must: • Complete advanced education in lactation support • Provide quality patient education to ensure that mothers achieve their infant feeding goals • Eliminate all advertising from infant formula manufacturers • Ensure their patients have access to breastfeeding support in the community Criteria for the award are closely based on the “Baby-Friendly USA Guidelines and Evaluation Criteria,” and the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine’s “Clinical Protocol #14: Breastfeeding-Friendly Physician’s Office: Optimizing Care for Infants and Children.” According to Emily Taylor, past-chair of the NCBC, “We created this award so that families in North Carolina know where to turn for evidence-based, high-quality breastfeeding support. We congratulate the inaugural award winners.” Breastfeeding is widely recognized for
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14 | January 2015 • Mecklenburg Medicine
Novant Health Offers Free Advance Directive Information Sessions for Cancer Patients Novant Health Cancer Care is piloting a free legal clinic for Novant Health cancer patients. Partnering with the Charlotte School of Law and lawyers from the Charlotte offices of Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, patients can receive information about the importance of completing an advance directive. Every month, Novant Health Cancer Care offers information sessions about Healthcare Power of Attorney and Living Wills, as well as a scheduled date to complete these documents with the help of a law student. To connect your patients to these free legal services, call 704-384-5223.
NATIONAL HEALTH & WELLNESS OBSERVANCES JANUARY 2015 Cervical Health Awareness Month Glaucoma Awareness Month National Birth Defects Prevention Month National Blood Donor Month Thyroid Awareness Month
At the Hospitals
Paper on First-in-World Procedure Accepted for Publication Courtney Stephenson, DO, FACOG, director of the Charlotte Fetal Care Center and associate director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Carolinas HealthCare System, along with David Iannitti, MD, chief of HPB surgery, authored a paper that was accepted for publication by the Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy Journal. The paper, entitled “Microwave Ablation for Twin-Reversed Arterial Perfusion Sequence: A Novel Application of Technology,” details how the two physicians were the first in the world to successfully treat a twin reversal arterial perfusion (TRAP) sequence pregnancy by using microwave ablation. The condition involves a healthy fetus that is vascularly attached to a mass with no heart. This mass “steals” blood from the healthy baby and ultimately can cause its demise. They presented at the International Fetal Medicine and Surgery Society meeting in Israel in 2013 and received overwhelming praise and acceptance of their work. “Centers globally acknowledge we are changing the future of fetal intervention with the intrauterine use of this device,” says Stephenson. “They are now discussing using the microwave to ablate fetal tumors and other vascular conditions.” Recently, surgeons from Texas Children’s Hospital asked Stephenson to teach them how to use the device on one of their patients. After discussing the case, both Stephenson and the team from Houston decided it would be best to have the surgery performed at Carolinas HealthCare System’s Charlotte Fetal Care Center. The surgery was successful, reinforcing the Center’s leadership in the field of fetal medicine.
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Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Awarded to Levine Cancer Institute Carolinas HealthCare System’s Levine Cancer Institute recently was awarded a
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Hematology/Oncology Fellowship, effective July 2015, to train future leaders in the fields of hematology and oncology. This is the only hematology/oncology fellowship currently available in the greater Charlotte region, and will give aspiring hematologists and medical oncologists the opportunity to train under nationally recognized physicians who subspecialize in treating aggressive types of blood cancer and blood disorders. The three-year fellowship, which is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), has been established under the leadership of Jimmy Hwang, Jimmy Hwang, MD MD, hematologist and medical oncologist at the Institute, and will provide nine fellows with intensive training in preparation for a career in oncology research and/or practice. The program will train participants on how to administer and integrate high-quality oncologic and hematologic care for patients involving multiple disciplines, including radiation oncology and genetics. The Institute’s hematology/oncology department is led by clinicians who are enrolling patients in several national clinical trials that test breakthrough treatments and novel therapies. The department opened the region’s first and only adult blood and marrow transplant unit in January 2014, and continues to evolve to meet the increased needs of patients. Grant to Help Study Nutrition for Spinal Cord Injury Patients Jesse A. Lieberman, MD, MSPH, attending physician at Carolinas Rehabilitation, has been awarded a grant worth nearly $1 million by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study nutrition education for Jesse A. Lieberman, MD, MSPH individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI) related to eating behaviors and cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention. The purpose of the research component of the $940K award is to investigate the affect of additional nutrition education on knowledge, diet quality, adiposity and metabolic CVD risk over a five-year period. The
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study will include additional nutrition education for individuals with acute SCI in acute rehab and for individuals with chronic SCI living in the community. In addition to identifying if nutrition education is beneficial, the study aims to identify the best environment to administer additional nutrition education, with the goal of reducing CVD in the chronic SCI population. At Carolinas Rehabilitation and Carolinas Medical Center, Lieberman, who has chronic SCI himself, helps treat patients with SCI and other disabilities, working with them to improve their mobility and health. Grant to Address Narcotic Prescription Abuse Carolinas HealthCare System’s Rachel Seymour, PhD, associate director of orthopedic clinical research, and Joseph Hsu, MD, orthopedic surgeon at Carolinas Medical Center and the Carolinas Trauma Network Research Center of Excellence, recently were awarded a $400,000 grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to fund research aimed at reducing prescriptions for narcotics. The two-year study, “Prescription Reporting with Immediate Medication Utilization Mapping (PRIMUM),” is one of two awards given nationally and is aimed at reducing narcotic abuse, misuse and diversion in a high-risk population. To implement the initiative, Seymour and Hsu, principal investigators on the study, will lead a multidisciplinary team comprising staff from Carolinas HealthCare System’s Orthopaedic Surgery, Emergency Medicine and Information Services departments, the Carolinas Trauma Network, and the Carolinas Poison Center, along with System administrators. The study will evaluate prescribing behavior with the goal of ultimately reducing morbidity and mortality rates throughout the System by providing immediate feedback to prescribers on prescription narcotic use in potentially high-risk patients. The initiative aims to curb prescriptions made for opioids and prescriptions that pair opioids with other controlled substances, as well as reduce the number of prescriptions given from multiple prescribers. n
Mecklenburg Medicine • January 2015 | 15
kure Independent Physicians of the Carolinas
Independent Physicians of the Carolinas, Inc. has transitioned into the kure Network, a clinically integrated virtual healthcare system comprised of independent physicians and designated health services, and will operate as kure Independent Physicians of the Carolinas. More information on the kure Network can be obtained at www.kurenetwork. com. Membership information can be obtained by contacting the VP of Business Development, Tom Daily, at tom.daily@kurenetwork.com or the Network Liaison, Sherie Bradshaw, at sherie.bradshaw@kurenetwork. com. Physician meetings will be scheduled in January and will be communicated via email when dates and locations are determined. To ensure you are contacted, email your contact information to Tom or Sherie at the addresses seen above. Matthews Internal Medicine has received Level 3 as a patientcentered medical home from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). This acknowledgment is for using evidencebased, patient-centered processes that focus on highly coordinated care and long-term, participative relationships. NCQA President Margaret E. O’Kane says, “Recognition shows that Matthews Internal Medicine has the tools, systems and resources to provide its patients with the right care, at the right time.” Read the full story at www. matthewsinternalmedicine.com. Aamer Quereshi, MD, FACC, FSCAI, vice president of Mecklenburg Heart Specialists, recently passed the American Board of Internal Medicine certification exam in cardiovascular medicine. Darlington Hart, MD, announced his return to the practice of internal medicine at Cornerstone Medical at 7704 England St. in Charlotte. Oncology Specialists of Charlotte, PA, is opening a satellite office in Pineville to better serve its south Darlington Hart, MD Charlotte patients. Opening Tuesday, January 6, patients can be seen at 7108 Pineville-Matthews Road, Suite 102, Charlotte. The phone number is unchanged at 704-342-1900. For patient scheduling, call 704-342-9577. Sensenbrenner Primary Care at 8821 Blakeney Professional Drive currently is enrolling patients in clinical trials who have one of the following conditions: hyperlipidemia, COPD, chronic constipation or renal disease. For more information, call 704-887-1101. Darst Dermatology has a new satellite office in Indian Land, S.C. The address is 6237 Carolina Commons Drive, Suite 101, in the Novant Health Indian Land Primary Care Building. The phone number is 704-325-5415. Patients can be seen there on Tuesday afternoons.
16 | January 2015 • Mecklenburg Medicine
Carolina Family Healthcare in Ballantyne welcomes new provider Maureen Scott, APN-BC. Scott is an RN and has a master’s degree in nursing. She has more than 20 years of experience as an adult nurse practitioner. She also has been accepted into the Integrative Medicine Fellowship Program at the University of Arizona. Joining medical director, Dino Kanelos, MD, Scott sees patients 13 years and older during clinic hours on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Maureen Scott, APN-BC Fridays. V Pain Clinic is the only practice in Charlotte area offering Coolief, cooled radio frequency ablation procedures. For more information about Coolief, visit www.mycoolief.com and watch the video about one of our successes: Real stories — Mabel Hennessy. Coolief RF is a noninvasive, outpatient treatment option for those suffering from chronic back pain. This advanced procedure uses cooled radiofrequency energy to safely target the sensory nerves causing pain. RF energy heats and cools the tissue at the site of pain. Coolief circulates water through the device while heating nerve tissue to create a treatment area that is larger than conventional RF treatments. This combination targets the pain-causing nerves without excessive heating, leading to pain relief. Welcome New Members: C. Thomas Humphries, MD joined Asthma & Allergy Specialists, PA. Offices are located in south Charlotte in the Arboretum area, north Charlotte in the University area, Steele Creek, Matthews and Monroe. Also joining is Robert Wozniak, MD, with Lancaster Endocrinology. Offices are located in the Ballantyne area in Charlotte and in Rock Hill, S.C.
Advertising Acknowledgements The following patrons made Mecklenburg Medicine possible.
Alexander Youth Network.............................................3 Brackett Flagship Properties...........................................7 Carolinas HealthCare System......................................19 Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat Associates ............18 Charlotte Radiology........................................................3 Charlotte Speech & Hearing Center..............................3 kure Independent Physicians of the Carolinas....... 9, 18 LabCorp.........................................................................20 Novant Health..................................................................2 Parsec Financial.............................................................17 The Ivey.........................................................................12
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Mecklenburg Medicine • January 2015 | 17
Introducing Our Newest Providers Leighanne H. Dorton, MD
Elliot C. McKee, MD
Wei Huang, MD, PhD
• Comprehensive Otolaryngology • Allergy Treatment • Voice & Swallowing Disorders • Sinus Disease
• Comprehensive Pediatric Ophthalmology • Pediatric & Adult Strabismus
• Comprehensive Ophthalmology • Glaucoma Specialist
Belmont, SouthPark and Statesville offices
Huntersville, University & Statesville offices
Salisbury office
Call 704.295.3100 to schedule your referral today. WE JUST MAKE SENSE.
18 | January 2015 • Mecklenburg Medicine
GOODSENSES.COM
704.295.3100 800.654.3368
She walked into my office wearing a huge Dr. Seuss hat and said she was going to beat cancer. every patient is unique. i learned this early in my career from a patient wearing a silly hat and a determined smile. Her odds were not good; all the data pointed to bad news. But her spirit and attitude showed me so much more than her statistical odds. What she taught me has stayed with me through every patient interaction since. she is strong today. and i am a better doctor for knowing her. at Levine Cancer institute, we always remember that every patient has her own story.
Levine CanCer institute World-class cancer care close to home. see Dr. Kim’s full story at CarolinasHealthCare.org/CancerCare
More than 25 locations across the Carolinas
704-512-3963
Mecklenburg County Medical Society
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID CHARLOTTE, N.C. PERMIT NO. 1494
1112 Harding Place, #200 Charlotte, NC 28204 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED MCMS Mission: To unite, serve and represent our members as advocates for our patients, for the health of the community and for the profession of medicine.
LabCorp Laboratory Corporation of America
PATIENT SERVICE CENTERS
Ballantyne Billingsley** Carmel** Cabarrus Charlotte** Gastonia Stat Lab Huntersville Huntersville** Lake Norman Matthews Northridge* Pineville Randolph** Rock Hill Salisbury** Salisbury Salisbury* Shelby Statesville** University**
… for all of your laboratory testing needs
15830 John Delaney Drive 300 Billingsley Road, Suite 200A 5633 Blakeney Park Drive, Suite 100 478 Copperfield Blvd. 1718 E. 4th Street 660 Summitt Crossing, Suite 206 14330 Oakhill Park Lane 10030 Gilead Road, Suite B100 134 Medical Park Drive, Suite 102 1500 Matthews Township Parkway, Suite 1147 5031-G West W.T. Harris Blvd. 10410 Park Road, Suite 450 1928 Randolph Road, Suite 109 2460 India Hook Road, Suite 101 611 Mocksville Avenue 612 Mocksville Avenue 514 Corporate Road 809 N. Lafayette Street 1710-A Davie Avenue 10320 Mallard Creek Road
*Drug Screens only **Blood Draws only
20 | January 2015 • Mecklenburg Medicine
Charlotte, NC Charlotte, NC Charlotte, NC Concord, NC Charlotte, NC Gastonia, NC Huntersville, NC Huntersville, NC Mooresville, NC Matthews, NC Charlotte, NC Pineville, NC Charlotte, NC Rock Hill, SC Salisbury, NC Salisbury, NC Salisbury, NC Shelby, NC Statesville, NC Charlotte, NC
704-540-0251 704-332-6904 704-542-7061 704-795-2710 704-372-6609 704-854-9497 704-948-8101 704-875-9130 704-799-6230 704-849-0154 704-598-6266 704-341-1145 704-334-2629 803-328-1724 704-637-1676 704-637-1987 704-221-4407 704-480-7004 704-878-0948 704-549-8647